Thermal protection of connector

A method for controlling an electrically conductive connection to a battery system, the method comprising:

• measuring, by a first temperature sensor, a temperature of a negative connection element and generating a first temperature signal based on the measured temperature of the negative connection element;
• sending the first temperature signal to a control unit;
• measuring, by a second temperature sensor, a temperature of a positive connection element and generating a second temperature signal based on the measured temperature of the positive connection element;
• sending the second temperature signal to the control unit;
• generating, by a control unit, a first value based on the first temperature signal and a second value based on the second temperature signal;
• computing, by the control unit, a difference of the first value and the second value;
• and
• generating, by the control unit, a first alert signal in response to an absolute value of the difference exceeding a predefined threshold,
• wherein the method is further comprising outputting, by the control unit, a second alert signal based on at least one of the first value and the second value,
• wherein the negative connection element is electrically connected with an anode of a stack of battery cells via a first electrical connection line, and the positive connection element is electrically connected with a cathode of the stack of battery cells via a second electrical connection line, and
• wherein the second alert signal is a signal suitable for directly controlling a relay implemented into one of the first electrical connection line and the second electrical connection line.